What do you guys think about Hinduism?

I am Hindu by birth, atheist by choice. I was just wondering what you guys thought about Hinduism.

I don't know anything about it. Don't Hindus worship cows?

It's cool, you have so many gods, if you don't like one you can always find a god you like to worship...

[---Beany---]

Provides more understanding than some religeons, but I wouldn't say it's perfect.

OK Beany, what's needed to make it perfect ?

[Sniper]

I don't like the Kaste thing.

i like the caste system, brahmins are the shit.

[Social Junker]

I find it interesting that the Hindu gods live in one of the Buddhist heavens.

[shuu]

its impossible to find information on hinduism, you'd have to go to india, travel to various different places where they practice different traditions and talk to them about it.

quote:I don't know anything about it. Don't Hindus worship cows?

The cow isn't actually worshipped, I mean we don't have cow temples. However, it is sacred. The cow is regarded as the mother. After all, cows were pretty much indispensible in ancient times. Food (milk, butter, etc), dung(manure for the fields), urine(insecticidal properties) etc.

quote:It's cool, you have so many gods, if you don't like one you can always find a god you like to worship...

It doesn't work like that all the time. The Hindu Pantheon has three major gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva (the creator, peacekeeper and destroyer of the universe, respectively). Brahma is not worshipped by common men, only scholars. The other two are, Vishnu(mostly as Rama or Krishna) and Shiva are. There have been major clashes between the Shiva and Vishnu factions of Hindus(long, long ago), but it was more territorial than religious(sorta like the crusades).

Apart from these gods, there are 330 million other 'minor' gods, with clearly defined functions, worshipped by different classes of people.

For instance, a scholar might be a devotee of Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom. Whereas a businessman would worship Lakshmi(the goddess of wealth).

Everyone does a ceremony for Ganesh(the God of auspicious beginnings) when they start something new.

etc etc...you get the drift

Aside: Proto-Hinduss(circa 3000-4000 BC) didn;t even worship Gods. They worshipped their ancestors (sorta like the Chinese)

quote:Provides more understanding than some religeons, but I wouldn't say it's perfect.

You can say that again! Hinduism is not a religion per se, but more of a way of life. The various ceremonies are built into common everyday activities. The premise of classical Hinduism is not 'live well and go to heaven/ sin and go to hell' but merely live well. There is less of a carrot/stick approach than most other religions.

quote:I don't like the Kaste thing.

Neither do I! The main problem with the caste system was that it became hereditary. Long long ago, the caste system was merely a method of classifying people, based on the type of work they did.

The bramhins were the scholars.

The kshatriyas were the warriors.

The vaishyas were the tradesmen.

The shudras were the workers(garbage collectors, toilet cleaners, fishermen, cobblers)

Initially, a person born in a shudra family could rise up the system, if he learnt the appropriate skills.

But gradually it became hereditary, which meanst that even the smartest shudra had to bow before the most incompetent bramhin.

quote:I find it interesting that the Hindu gods live in one of the Buddhist heavens.

No idea... But you might find it interesting that Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism. Buddha is regarded as one of the ten avatars (reincarnations) of Vishnu.

quote:its impossible to find information on hinduism, you'd have to go to india, travel to various different places where they practice different traditions and talk to them about it.

I think you can find a lot of info on the net...I'll see if I can dig up some links for you.

Edit: Fixed UBB tags

[This message has been edited by evil0verl0rd (edited 10-01-2004).]

My problem is with Krishna. I mean he's surrounded by chicks, has this magical golden flute (you can figure out the symbolism), surely he's the party god! However the devotees of Krishna (in the US anyway) don't have as many drug and sex orgies as you might expect...

I find it very interesting. the thing I noticed the most in my travels in india was the contrasts. you have all kinds of drunken fucked up orgies on one side then extreeme asceticism on the other. it is truly interesting. most people (especially around here) have no real understanding of it. it is way beyond holy cows, and a million different gods. I would have to write a book to go into the deeper meaning here. I find it unique in many senses. for one that it seems to be just an ancient polytheistic religion at first glance that has adapted and developed over time to follow the flow of indian civilization how ever it has needed to. I personally don't believe in it but I like to think I understand it pretty well. I don't know if I do.

[LostCause]

I think it's as interesting as any other religion, but I never felt it's beliefs were very valid. I mean, they seemed to pull a lot of stuff out of hats.

That and every Hindu I've met have been baby raping assholes.

Cheers,

Lost

quote:Originally posted by LostCause:



Every Hindu is a baby raping asshole.

Cheers,

Lost

So.

True.

[LostCause]

I did not say that.

You're a bad bad boy, Sean.

Cheers,

Lost

One of the best things I've ever learnt from a hindu was (you need to read this in one of the cool softly spoken Indian voices):

"Being a hindu is not about doing a particular religious ceremony. It is about how you do everything in your life"

It's not exctly profound, but I suppose it's just something I related to.

quote:Originally posted by inquisitor_11:

One of the best things I've ever learnt from a hindu was (you need to read this in one of the cool softly spoken Indian voices):

"Being a hindu is not about doing a particular religious ceremony. It is about how you do everything in your life"

It's not exctly profound, but I suppose it's just something I related to.

This is perhaps the closest that I have come to a definition...

I've only read Bhagvatad-Gita(I think It's even on totse) once and I wasn't ashtonished. Some interesting content, but also absolute old bullshit.

Something doesn't have to astonish you to affect you.

The core thought of the Bhagwad Gita is, I guess, "Just Do It". Do your duty, do not expect a reward, do not bother about the price you have to pay.

That's hardly "earth-shatteringly difficult to comprehend" stuff.

On the other hand, it is extremely "difficult to live by" stuff.

[This message has been edited by evil0verl0rd (edited 10-04-2004).]

[KikoSanchez]

If I am correct, hinduism believes that this whole material world is not 'real'. Instead you are just a viewer through this body, much like a movie or drama. Instead the 'real you' (you're supernatural spirit maybe?) is in another world just watching all of this. Personally, I find this to be very odd. I won't get into why, but this is a hindu belief, correct? Correct me if I am wrong.

[Social Junker]

quote:Originally posted by KikoSanchez:

If I am correct, hinduism believes that this whole material world is not 'real'. Instead you are just a viewer through this body, much like a movie or drama. Instead the 'real you' (you're supernatural spirit maybe?) is in another world just watching all of this. Personally, I find this to be very odd. I won't get into why, but this is a hindu belief, correct? Correct me if I am wrong.

What you said is similar to the Buddhist belief that this world is nothing but an illusion, literally a "waking dream". That is not to say that this world is not really "here", but the illusion is how humans perceive it.

This world has been described as a mirror, only reflecting what is in our minds. I truly believe that.

[KikoSanchez]

quote:Originally posted by Social Junker:



What you said is similar to the Buddhist belief that this world is nothing but an illusion, literally a "waking dream". That is not to say that this world is not really "here", but the illusion is how humans perceive it.

This world has been described as a mirror, only reflecting what is in our minds. I truly believe that.

What support do you have that this world is just an illusion? It seems to me that if everything was made up by our minds, that people would have opposing reports of the world, but yet they are consistent. Then it would seem that there would either have to be some interpersonal connection between all people, so that we all have a consistent perception or that this world is reality and that is why there is consistency.

If everything were an illusion of the mind, where would all of these illusions come from? There must be somewhere that it derived everything from.

[princecharmant1980]

i think HINDUISM is disgusting i don't like people who worship RATS !!!: http:../../membres.lycos.fr/indes/bkn/bkn_dsk.htm http://members.madasafish.com/~cj_wh...#photographers

<A HREF="../../members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/artwork/deshnok/man_sharing_food_with_rats.jpg"></A>

Pilgrims touch the ground where the rats have walked and bring them offerings of food: and those whose prayers are answered bring silver and gold. They not only feed the rats, believing it lucky to have a rat eat from their hand, but also themselves eat some of the food which the rats have already nibbled, or sit down and eat with them from the same dish - considering it blessed to share a meal with the "little children" in this way.

[Social Junker]

quote:Originally posted by KikoSanchez:

What support do you have that this world is just an illusion? It seems to me that if everything was made up by our minds, that people would have opposing reports of the world, but yet they are consistent. Then it would seem that there would either have to be some interpersonal connection between all people, so that we all have a consistent perception or that this world is reality and that is why there is consistency.

If everything were an illusion of the mind, where would all of these illusions come from? There must be somewhere that it derived everything from.

I think you took what I said too literally. By consistent world views, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean how we see the physical world, or do you mean we have consistent ideas?

By illusion of the mind, it has to do with desires and suffering. I don't know if you know a lot about Buddhism, so I'll sum it up:

By illusion, I meant the illusion that derives from ignorance, as in being ignorant on how the world really is, that is, that desire is the root of suffering, and that for suffering to end, desire must be eliminated.

That is a very simplified version.

When I said this world is a waking dream, I did not mean it in a "Matrix" sort of way.

quote:Originally posted by princecharmant1980:

i think HINDUISM is disgusting i don't like people who worship RATS !!!: http:../../membres.lycos.fr/indes/bkn/bkn_dsk.htm http:../../members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/deshnok.htm#photogr aphers

&lt;A HREF="../../www.misterprivacy.com/cgi-bin/nph-mpfree.cgi/111110a/http/members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/artwork/deshnok/man_sharing_food_with_rats.jpg"&gt; <A HREF="../../members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/artwork/deshnok/man_sharing_food_with_rats.jpg"></A> &lt;/A&gt;

Pilgrims touch the ground where the rats have walked and bring them offerings of food: and those whose prayers are answered bring silver and gold. They not only feed the rats, believing it lucky to have a rat eat from their hand, but also themselves eat some of the food which the rats have already nibbled, or sit down and eat with them from the same dish - considering it blessed to share a meal with the "little children" in this way.

Still, it is better than Islam.

quote:Originally posted by princecharmant1980:

i think HINDUISM is disgusting i don't like people who worship RATS !!!: http:../../membres.lycos.fr/indes/bkn/bkn_dsk.htm http:../../members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/deshnok.htm#photogr aphers

&lt;A HREF="../../members.madasafish.com/~cj_whitehound/rats_nest/ship_rats/artwork/deshnok/man_sharing_food_with_rats.jpg"&gt;&lt;/A&gt;

Pilgrims touch the ground where the rats have walked and bring them offerings of food: and those whose prayers are answered bring silver and gold. They not only feed the rats, believing it lucky to have a rat eat from their hand, but also themselves eat some of the food which the rats have already nibbled, or sit down and eat with them from the same dish - considering it blessed to share a meal with the "little children" in this way.

Isn'y it nice to take a ritual practised by people in some obscure village and then use it to label an entire religion?

LIEKOMFGWTF? MAnhattan people are stockbrokers???!!!!

yes that's true. hinduism varies so greatly in it's practices throughout the country that it hardly seems like the same religion in one part. that's like saying all christians scream in tongues, and carry snakes around.

Much better than stinking Islam. :P

[princecharmant1980]

it's your problem if you prefer rats and cow to god i'm not like you if i have the choice between CHRISTIANITY and RATS i'll defenetly choose the first even if i hate CHRISTIANS

this is the source of such misunderstanding. hinduism is not just a bunch of gods, and sacred animals worshiped, and that's it. it is a way of life. a social and religious system in one that has governed the life of its followers for centuries. one divine being brahman is above the gods. these dieties are little servants to one philisophical concept of god. he is not a providential god who is very clear like in christianity. he is more of an idea, a notion and an energy. the gods are in controll of many of the things in the cosmos. shiva, brama, vishnu, ganesh, kali, and others are in the worldly controll of things.

this is hard to explain I think I'm gonna stop trying soon but it is far beyond what people see at first glimpse.

quote:Originally posted by freaker:

this is the source of such misunderstanding. hinduism is not just a bunch of gods, and sacred animals worshiped, and that's it. it is a way of life. a social and religious system in one that has governed the life of its followers for centuries. one divine being brahman is above the gods. these dieties are little servants to one philisophical concept of god. he is not a providential god who is very clear like in christianity. he is more of an idea, a notion and an energy. the gods are in controll of many of the things in the cosmos. shiva, brama, vishnu, ganesh, kali, and others are in the worldly controll of things.

this is hard to explain I think I'm gonna stop trying soon but it is far beyond what people see at first glimpse.

No, go on, Hinduism is fascinating, very old, and very complex, plus it has secret teachings. No it doesn't, just kidding.

It is interesting though.

[princecharmant1980]

quote:Originally posted by freaker:

this is the source of such misunderstanding. hinduism is not just a bunch of gods, and sacred animals worshiped, and that's it. it is a way of life. a social and religious system in one that has governed the life of its followers for centuries. one divine being brahman is above the gods. these dieties are little servants to one philisophical concept of god. he is not a providential god who is very clear like in christianity. he is more of an idea, a notion and an energy. the gods are in controll of many of the things in the cosmos. shiva, brama, vishnu, ganesh, kali, and others are in the worldly controll of things.

this is hard to explain I think I'm gonna stop trying soon but it is far beyond what people see at first glimpse.

so why are rats and cows sacred do thay furnish energy to the cosmos or whatever?

quote:Originally posted by princecharmant1980:

so why are rats and cows sacred do thay furnish energy to the cosmos or whatever?

• The cow is worshipped as the divine mother. She nourishes (milk, butter, curds),warms(cowdung is used as fuel)...etc etc...

• The rat is the mount of Lord Ganesha(the god of auspicious beginnings), one of our most popular gods

On an aside here's something I copy-pasted from the net.

Gandhi felt that Hinduism's greatest contribution to society is the respect of all creatures, whether animal or human. Westerners scoff at the idea of "cow worship" and indeed this has idea has sometimes got out of balance. But the essence of the belief is a respect of all animals as a part of the greater whole. The idea is close to that of the Seventh Day Adventist Church that for the most part shuns the killing of animals for food, seeing in this practice a "system of domination" over the animal world.

Perhaps a more balanced view is that of the Native American attitude toward animals. Though taken for food, this is done in great restraint and with respect to the animal kingdom: considered "brothers" to Native Americans.

[psycho_8b]

Hinduism interests me...I like the idea of polytheism as it makes more sense than one big god doing everything.

I always enjoyed hearing the story of Divali aswell.

That story is like one of my all time favourites...Hanuman the monkey rocks!

But yeah...Hinduism has my vote...More logical when it comes to deities, has cool stories and I haven't had a single Hindu try to convert me!

Even though I am an honourary Indian...But that's a different story!

[princecharmant1980]

quote:Originally posted by evil0verl0rd:

• The cow is worshipped as the divine mother. She nourishes (milk, butter, curds),warms(cowdung is used as fuel)...etc etc...

• The rat is the mount of Lord Ganesha(the god of auspicious beginnings), one of our most popular gods

On an aside here's something I copy-pasted from the net.

Gandhi felt that Hinduism's greatest contribution to society is the respect of all creatures, whether animal or human. Westerners scoff at the idea of "cow worship" and indeed this has idea has sometimes got out of balance. But the essence of the belief is a respect of all animals as a part of the greater whole. The idea is close to that of the Seventh Day Adventist Church that for the most part shuns the killing of animals for food, seeing in this practice a "system of domination" over the animal world.

Perhaps a more balanced view is that of the Native American attitude toward animals. Though taken for food, this is done in great restraint and with respect to the animal kingdom: considered "brothers" to Native Americans.

interesting but all mamals produce milk and rats spread plague dumb philosophy